City employees Randy Howard and Mark Abrams use the city's water jet truck to flush out the storm sewers, which helps reduce the odor that occurs during drier months.

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So heavy was a rainstorm in July that it ruptured a sewer line and destroyed much of a study being conducted by the city of Marion to try to address flooding and sewer overflow problems arising from just such weather events on the near west side.

When the deluge filled the Rock Swale Ditch, which empties into the Little Scioto River, it held shut a flapper gate, preventing sewer water from escaping, Roger Baldinger, the city's water pollution control superintendent, said. The subsequent back-up led to the rupturing of an approximately 66-inch pipe. Cost of the repair was about $65,000.